D.C. Appeals Court Greenlights Suit Against Lawmaker

Law360, New York (August 28, 2006, 12:00 AM EDT) -- In a decision that could have far-reaching implications, a federal appeals court has rejected Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson's contention that congressional immunity should shield her from a job-discrimination lawsuit filed by her former chief of staff.

The decision, handed down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, allows the suit to proceed while calling into question the wide berth traditionally granted to lawmakers regarding employee litigation.

In the suit, Johnson’s former chief of staff Beverly Fields claims that she was demoted...